Wed, May 11, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 12:14AM Wednesday, May 11, 2011
When you travel the northwest, around every corner practically, the scenery is going to change dramatically as does the weather. – Donna Downey
We all say we don’t like change and we say change is inevitable… there are so many quotes about change but even the slightest change can sometimes create excitement or opportunity. There are certain types of change that I love and others than I don’t like at all. But the change that comes when you’re on a road trip is one I embrace!
Tuesday was a long day for us and by the time I got thru with my journal and going thru the photos for the day it was the wee hours of the morning. But, remarkably I woke up feeling pretty good this morning and about our usual time.
Charles and I both like the routine of our daily lives at home. We like having our family near and we are sticklers for particular traditions in our relationship that create a certain comfort in our marriage. We know we can count on each other and know the depth of our bond. We don’t want any changes in this area. But then there is a change of scenery i.e. a road trip. We are both addicts to a road trip. We have, on more than one occasion, made a spontaneous trip to the mountains or the beach or just driven to Mobile for dinner and driven home again. We love to be on the road. We are devoted to our road trips no matter what the length.
One of the great things about traveling the northwest is the change of scenery, the lay of the land, the altitude, the temperatures, or the weather. Today we experienced a bit of all of that which is not unusual. We generally get excited about change when we are on the road. Changes in the weather can produce the opportunity for something other than the “run of the mill photo”. It can keep you on your toes or lull you into a wonderful nap. We had a little bit of all of that today.
When we left the motel after a continental breakfast, the day was perfect according to most normal people’s definition. Temperatures were already in the sixties, blue skies in every direction accented with just a few wisps of white clouds and add a warm soft breeze to provide comfort to us and the pups. We took advantage of the weather to tool around in the Palouse region for most of the day. The scenery was like something out of a Disney movie.
We had an interesting stop at the Lower Granite Lock & Dam on the Snake River. Went into the Visitor Center there and learned a good bit about Salmon and Trout and how the dam was built to accommodate their need to make their way up river to spawn. In the center they had a viewing area where you could watch the fish as they made their way up the ladders built to enable them to get past the dam itself. There was a super guy working in that area and he let us go into the area where a woman sits observing each fish that passes thru the ladder and keeps up with statistical information. I don’t know how she does it all day! The guy was a wealth of information and more than willing to share with us. It was a good stop.
After leaving the dam we continued our trek in the general direction of the Columbia River Gorge and our destination plan of The Dalles, Oregon for the night. We made numerous stops all day for photos and puppy play and wonderful short naps with that heavenly breeze flowing into the Jeep.
When we got to the Columbia river west of Walla Walla, Washington we noticed a pretty good dip in the temperatures which had climbed into the upper seventies in the Palouse region. There were more clouds and the breeze seemed to be getting stronger. Still it was a beautiful day and the windows remained down on the Jeep. As the afternoon progressed however, so did the change in the weather. As we wound our way around the huge hills along the river the breezes turned into wind, the temperatures began to drop and the wisps of clouds grew to dark gray clouds that began to fill the sky.
East of The Dalles it became practically a gale! Areas of the land that were plowed but no crop covered the ground became the birth place of dust storms. From the high cliffs overlooking the gorge and river below it was an awesome sight. Soon the winds grew stronger and a cold rain began… well at least that ended the dust storms! It got interesting to say the least but beautiful as well and we still enjoyed the change of scenery and weather.
Just before we reached The Dalles you could see a break in the clouds to the west and as we turned across the river for the last time today the sun broke thru the break in the clouds and lit up the gorge in the most gorgeous golden light. Unfortunately, we were in a place where it was not convenient to turn around and we needed to get to the motel to be sure we could get a room so no picture. As I am sitting here typing the winds have died down again and all is peaceful.
It was a very interesting day on the road and we are well tonight. We hope that y’all are too.
Peace, Hope & Love,
Donna, Charles, Paris & Dodger
Reader Comments (1)
I am so utterly impressed with your photos! I do not know how you capture the open land equally as well as close up detail but you certainly do! Bravo Donna Gayle! Bravo!